Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister of Punjab, on Saturday, announced that on the occasion of 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the Punjab government would release 550 prisoners as a humanitarian gesture. Most of the prisoners were convicted by various courts in the country for offences committed during the militancy period in Punjab. 

Remission of nine prisoners

According to a statement, while making the announcement, Singh also thanked Home Minister Amit Shah for accepting the state government’s proposal to grant special remission to nine Sikh prisoners across the country on the historic occasion and for supporting it. He also appreciated the centre for accepting the state’s plea to release TADA prisoners who had completed their sentence and whose release was not perceived to be prejudicial to the peace and security of Punjab or the country.

READ | Capt Amarinder Singh pays tribute to slain Indian-American Sikh cop

‘Goodwill gesture’

In a letter that Singh had written to Shah on September 14, the CM had requested the central government to accept the proposal on humanitarian grounds. It said that the move would be implemented as a ‘goodwill gesture.’

READ | Sacrilege case: No faith in CBI, says Punjab CM Amarinder Singh

The statement also said, “The Centre has now decided to commute the death sentence of one prisoner to life sentence and prematurely release eight others.” Singh, while expressing his gratitude towards the government, said that these prisoners are now old men and deserve a chance to reunite with their families and spend the rest of their lives with them. He also said that the men do not pose any danger to the society in any way and that Guru Nanak Dev’s birth anniversary was the perfect occasion to release them, thus following the first Sikh Guru's ideology of compassion.

Following permission from the Home Ministry, the information about the release of the Sikh prisoners was communicated to the concerned state governments and Union Territories.

READ | Capt Amarinder calls Cong MP Partap Singh Bajwa's remark 'imbecile'

READ | Amarinder Singh forms a sub-committee to tackle stray cattle threat

(With ANI Inputs)